Apparatus for assembling together interlocking extrusions or the like



March 1965 E. .1. DE RIDDER 3,

APPARATUS FOR AS EMBLING TOGETHER INTERLQCKING EXTRUSIONS OR THE LIKE Filed April 13, 1961 56 FIG-5 INVENTOR. ERNST J. DeRl DDER BYZ W HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent f) APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING TOGETHER INTERLOCKING EXTRUSIONS OR THE LIKE Ernst J. De Ridder, Henrico County, Va., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 102,724 6 Claims. (Cl. 29235) This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for interconnecting together interlocking extrusions or the like.

More particularly, this invention relates to an improved apparatus for interconnecting together interlocking extrusions Or the like by passing the assembled interlocking portions of the extrusions or articles between a pair of counter-rotating wheels or rolls that force the interlocking portions together.

Heretofore, different apparatus has been provided for mechanically interlocking extrusions or articles together in a press-fit relation.

While the extrusions or articles may vary in their configurations and construction, they each have a portion that is adapted to be press-fitted together with an adjacent cooperating portion of another extrusion or article.

One embodiment of the apparatus of this invention comprises a frame means rotatably carrying a pair of aligned wheels and means for causing relative movement between the wheels to vary the space therebetween. Motor means is carried by the frame means and is operatively interconnected to one of the wheels to cause rotation thereof.

In this manner, the wheels are first set in a spaced relation to readily receive assembled extrusions or articles therebetween before the extrusions or articles have been disposed in a press-fit relation. Thereafter, relative movement is effected between the wheels to cause the portions of the extrusions or articles disposed therebetween to be press-fitted together in interlocking relation.

With the wheels disposed in this latter position, rotation of one of the wheels is effected by the motor means interconnected thereto whereby relative movement is caused between the extrusions or articles and the wheels of the apparatus so that the counter-rotating wheels effectively interconnect the remaining portions of the ex trusions or alticles passing between the rolls by pressfitting the interlocking portions of the extrusions or articles together.

Therefore, it can be seen that the apparatus of this invention is adapted to interconnect or assemble together a plurality of interlocking extrusions or articles with a minimum of steps and time or effort.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for assembling together interlocking extrusions or the like and having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent upon a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a small perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the apparatus of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary end view illustrating partially assembled extrusions or the like that can be interconnected together by the apparatus and method of this invention.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 and illustrates the extrusions or the like in their fully interlocked position.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1 and is taken on line 4-4 thereof.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, plan view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1 with the wheels thereofshown in phantom. 4

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1 and is taken substantially on line 6-6 thereof.

While one specific type of interlocking extrusion or article is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter described, it is to be understood that such extrusions or articles are merely exemplary of the many types that can be interconnected together by the method and apparatus of this invention.

Further, while the apparatus of this invention is illustrated and hereinafter described as interconnecting together interlocking extrusions or the like, it is to be understood that the apparatus of this invention can be utilized for other purposes, as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments thereof illustrated in the drawings, as the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the improved apparatus of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and comprises a frame structure or frame means 11 carrying a pair of wheels 12 and 13 disposed in aligned relation and adapted to interconnect or assemble together interlocking extrusions or articles in a manner hereinafter described.

While the types of extrusions or articles to be interlocked together by the apparatus of this invention do not form any part of this invention, it is deemed necessary to disclose one such type to more fully understand this invention. However, it is to be understood that other types of extrusions or articles can be utilized, as desired,

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, a pair of interlocking extrusions 14a and 1412 are shown in a partially assembled condition before the same are mechanically interlocked together in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3 by the apparatus of this invention.

Each extrusion 14a and 14b is identical and comprises a flat body portion 15 having a pair of opposed legs 16 and 17 extending outwardly from the peripheral edges of the body portion 15.

Each leg 16 has an enlargement 18 at one end thereof provided with a pair of outwardly directed flanges 19 and 20 defining an annularly disposed and outwardly facing channel 21 therebetween.

A pair of oppositely directed flanges 22 and 23 extend from the other end of the leg 16, the flange 23 having a turned over end 24 cooperating with the body portion of the leg 16 to define a channel 25 therewith.

The other leg 17 of each extrusion 14a or 14b has an outwardly projecting head 26 at one end thereof which cooperates with a curved portion 27 of the leg 17 to define a channel 28 therewith, the head 26 being adapted to being received in the channel 21 of the leg 16 of another extrusion while the channel 28 thereof receives the flange 20 of the leg 16 of the other extrusion in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3.

A short flange 29 is carried at the other end of the leg 17 and is adapted to be press-fitted in the channel 25 of the leg 16 of the other extrusion in a manner hereinafter described to interlock the extrusions together.

When it is desired to interconnect the extrusions 14a and 14b together, the bead 26 of the leg 17 of the extrusion 14b is inserted in the channel 21 of the leg 16 of the extrusion 14a. However, because the turned over end 24 of the flange 23 abuts the flange 29 of the extrusion 14b, the extrusions 14a and 14b are disposed in the angular and partially assembled position illustrated in FIGURE 2.

By forcing the partially assembled legs 16 and 17 of the extrusions 14a and 14b toward each other from the position illustrated in FIGURE 2, the flange 29 of the extrusion 14bcanbe forcedinto. the channel of the extrusion 14a in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3 whereby the extrusions 14d. and 1412 are mechanically interlocked. together and held in this position by the turned over end 24 of the extrusion 14a.

I The apparatus 18 illustrated in FIGURE 1 is adapted to assemble together the extrusions 14a and 14b in the above manner with a minimum of time and effort and without requiring relatively skilled labor or a time-consuming operation.

The more specific details of the apparatus 10 will now be described.

As illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5, the frame means 11 of the apparatus 10"includes a bottom wall means suitably interconnected to peripheral side wall means 31. For example the side wall means 31 and bottom wall means 30 may be interconnected together by welding at 32. The side wall means 31 cooperate with the bottom wall means 30 to define a compartment 33 within the frame means 11'.

A top plate 34 is disposed at the upper end of the side wall means 31 and is secured thereto by a plurality of bolts 35; The plate 34' has a bore 36 passing transversely therethrough to receive a shaft 37 of a suitable ratio motor 38 disposed in the compartment 33 of the frame means 11 and secured to the bottom wall means 30 thereof by a plurality of bolts 39.

One end of the plate 34 is interrupted by a rectangular slot 40 which is interconnected to a smaller slot 41, the slots 48 and 41 cooperating together to receive a cam 42 carried on a shaft assembly 43 rotatably supported by theframe means 11 of the apparatus 10.

As illustrated in FIGURE 6, the top plate 34 is provided with a transverse slot'44 having a straight side wall 45 and an-opposed beveled side wall 46. The. transverse slot 44 extends from the rectangular slot 40 to another rectangular-slot 47 formed in the plate 34 intermediate the bore 36 and the rectangular slot 40 previously described.

V A dove-tailed sliding block or member 48 is disposed in the transverse slot 44 of the plate 34 and is retained therein by a retaining plate 49 received in the slot 44 and secured thereto by a plurality of bolts 50. The retaining plate 49 has a beveled surface 51 disposed in sliding engagement with a beveled surface 52 ,of the sliding block 48 while the other beveled surface 53 of the sliding block 48 is disposed in sliding engagement with the beveled surface 46 of the top plate 34. The retaining plate 49 is adapted to be'adjusted to a proper position relative to the sliding block 48 by a plurality of adjusting screws 54 carried by the top plate 34 and disposedfin abutting engagement with a side 55 of the retaining plate 49 as illustrated in FIGURES 5' and 6.

The retaining plate 49 cooperates with the sliding block or member 48' in such a manner that the sliding block 48 isadapted to be moved radially toward or away from the bore 36 in the top plate 34 in a manner hereinafter described.

An adjusting screw 56 is threadedly carried at one end of the sliding block 48 and has an enlarged head 57 disposed in engagement with the cam 42 as illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5. By adjusting the threaded relationship between the adjusting screw 56 and the sliding block- 48,- the position of the sliding block 48 in the slot 44 can be varied for any rotational position of the cam 42..

- A- compression spring 58 is disposed in the rectangular slot 47 of the top plate 34 and has one end 59 thereof received in a recess 60 formed in the plate 34 and the other end 61 thereof received in a recess 62 formed in the sliding block 48.

In this manner, the compression spring 58 is continuously urging the sliding block 48 toward the cam 42 whereby the enlarged end 57 of the adjusting screw 56 is always disposed in engagement with the cam 42 regardless of the rotational position thereof.

A stub shaft 63 is carried by the sliding block or member 48 and projects between the beveled surfaces 46 and 51 of the plates 34 and 49 in the manner illustrated in V FIGURES 5 and 6.

The wheel 13 of the apparatus 10 is rotatably carried on the stub-shaft 63 of the sliding block 48 with a bearing means 64 disposed between the Wheel 13 and the stub shaft 63. v

The wheel 13 comprises an outer peripheral rim 6 formed of any suitable material and having an inner medial flange 66 gripped between two body members 67 and 68 of the wheel 13, the body member 67 being detachablysecured to the body member 68' by a plurality of bolts 69.

The wheel 13 is retained on the stub shaft 63 of the sliding block 48 by a collar '70 detachablysecured to the stub shaft 63 by a bolt 71.

The wheel 12', in a manner similar to the wheel 13,

has a peripheral rim member 72 interconnected betweentwo body members 73- and 74 interconnected together by a plurality of bolts- 75. The body member 74 has a hub 76 splined to the shaft 37 of the motor 38 and retained thereon by a set screw 77 carried by the hub 76.

The wheels 12 and 13 are so constructed and arranged that the same have axes of rotation disposed parallel to eachother whereby the rims 65 and 72 thereof are disposed in aligned relation.

Therefore, when it is desired to assemble together relatively thick extrusions or articles between the wheels 12 and 13 of the apparatus 10, the adjusting screw 56 is telescoped the desired distance within the sliding member. 48 through the threaded relation therewith whereby thespace between the wheels 12 and 13 will-be greater than that that illustrated in the drawings when the cam 42 is inthe rotational position illustrated because the compression spring- 58 will maintain the enlargedhead' 57 of the adjusting screw 56 in engagement with the cam 42. Conversely, by extending the adjusting screw 56 outwardly from the sliding member 48, the space between the wheels 12 and 13 can be decreased to the desired size for any particular rotational position of the cam 42 to accommodate extrusions or articles of varying thicknesses.

As illustrated in FIGURESl and 5, the shaft assembly 4-3 has a pair of opposed ends 78 and 79 extending from opposite ends of the. apparatus 16 and respectively. interconnected to handles 80 and 81. In this manner, the operator of the apparatus 10 can grasp the handles 80 and 81 to rotate the shaft assembly 43 in any desired direction whereby the cam .42 is rotated therewith and causes movement of the sliding block 48 in a radial direction toward or away from the axis of rotational of the wheel 12. Thus, the gap or space between the wheels 12 and 13 can be selectively varied by movement of the handles SGand 81.

A pairof rollers 82 and 83 are respectively carried by the apparatus 18 and project outwardly from the plate 34 thereofin the manner illustrated in FIGURES 4 and '6, the rollers 82 and 83 respectively being carried by brackets 84 and 85 secured to the top plate 34 by a plurality of bolts 86 and 87.

Each mounting bracket 84. and 85 comprises a base 88 secured tothe plate 34 by the bolts 86' or 87 and having a pair of cars or lugs 89 extending outwardly therefrom.- T he outer ends of the lugs 89- are provided witlr suitable apertures to receive bolts 90, the bolts.90'pass-- ing through suitable bores in the rollers 82 and 83 where by the rollers SZ-and 83 are rotatably mounted between the lugs 89 ofthe brackets 84 and 85. v

The rollers 82 and 83 are so constructed and arranged, that the axes of rotation thereof are disposed perpendicular to the axes of rotation of the wheels 12 and 13 and span the gap or space between the wheels 12 and 13 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4.

A plurality of wheels or rollers 91 are rotatably carried on shafts 92 supported by the frame means 11 of the apparatus 10, the rollers '31 projecting beyond the bottom wall means 31 of the frame means 11 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4. In this manner, the apparatus 11 can be supported by the rollers 91 on any desired supporting structure so that the apparatus can be moved on the supporting structure with a minimum of efiort.

The operation of the apparatus 141 will now be described.

Assuming that it is desired to utilize the apparatus 10 to interconnect together the partially assembled extrusions 14a and 14b illustrated in FIGURE 2, the shaft construction 43 is rotated by the handles 315 and 81 to a position whereby the cam means 42 permits the wheels 12 and 13 to be spaced apart from each other a distance sufficient to permit one end of the partially assembled legs 16 and 17 of the extrusions 14a and 14b to be inserted therebetween.

Thereafter, the cam means 42 is rotated by the handles 80 and 81 in a direction to cause the wheel 13 to be moved toward the wheel 12 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4 to compact together those portions of the legs 16 and 17 of the extrusions 14a and 14b disposed between the Wheels 12 and 13 whereby those portions are mechanically interlocked together.

With the wheels 12 and 13 disposed in this latter position, the motor 38 is operated to cause rotation of the wheel 12 whereby the wheel 12 through frictional engagement with the extrusions 14a causes either the partially assembled extrusions 14a and 14b to move relative to the apparatus 1t? or the apparatus 10 to move relative to the extrusions 14a and 1411 on the rollers 91 thereof.

In either event, the rotation of the wheel 12 causes relative movement between the wheels 12 and 13 and the extrusions 14a and 14!) so that the wheels 12 and 13 counter rotate and progressively interlock the legs 16 and 17 of the extrusions 14a and 14b together throughout the length thereof as the extrusions 14a and 14b pass between the Wheels 12 and 13.

Therefore, it can be seen that the apparatus 10 progressively rolls together the interlocking portions of the extrusions 14a and 14b in a relatively simple and nontime consuming manner.

In order to positively align the extrusions 14a and 14b between the wheels 12 and 13 of the apparatus 10, the flanges 23 and 22 of the extrusion 14a are disposed against the rollers 82 and 83 of the apparatus 10 so that the proper portions of the legs 16 and 17 of the extrusions 14a and 14b are accurately located between the rolls 12 and 13. In this mamier the wheels 12 and 13 can accomplish their interlocln'ng function as set forth above.

Thus, it can be seen that the apparatus of this invention provide novel means for interlocking together interlocking extrusions or the like in a simple and rapid manner.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for assembling together interlocking extrusions or the like and comprising frame means, a first wheel carried by said frame means and having an axis of rotation, a member carried by said frame means and movable toward and away from said axis of rotation of said first wheel, means interposed between said member and said frame means tending to move said member away from said axis of rotation of said first wheel, an adjusting screw extending from said member on a side thereof opposed to said interposed means, a second wheel rotatably carried by said member and having an axis of rotation disposed parallel to said axis of rotation of said first Wheel, and a rotatable cam carried by said frame means and disposed in Engagement with said adjusting screw to selectively vary the space between said wheels.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein a shaft carries said cam and is rotatably carried by said frame means, said shaft having means to rotate the same.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein a shaft carries said cam and is rotatably carried by said frame means, said shaft having a pair of opposed ends projecting from said frame means, and a pair of handles are respectively connected to said opposed ends of said shaft to rotate the same.

4. Apparatus for assembling together interlocking extrusions or the like and comprising frame means, a first wheel rotatably carried by said frame means and having an axis of rotation, a member slidably carried by said frame means and movable radially toward and away from said axis of rotation of said first wheel, a second wheel rotatably carried by said member and having an axis of rotation disposed parallel to said axis of rotation of said first wheel, and means operatively interconnected to said member to selectively move said member toward and away from said axis of rotation of said first wheel to selectively vary the space between said wheels, said last-named means including means disposed between said frame means and said member and continuously tending to move said wheels apart.

5. Apparatus for assembling together interlocking extrusions or the like and comprising frame means, a first Wheel rotatably carried by said frame means and having an axis of rotation, a member slidably carried by said frame means and movable radially toward and away from said axis of rotation of said first wheel, a second wheel rotatably carried by said member and having an axis of rotation disposed parallel to said axis of rotation of said first wheel, and means operatively interconnected to said member to selectively move said member toward and away from said axis of rotation of said first wheel to selectively vary the space between said wheels, said lastnamed means including means disposed between said frame means and said member and continuously tending to move said wheels apart, said last-named means includin g a rotatable cam carried by said frame means and operatively interconnected to said member.

6. Apparatus for assembling together interlocking extrusions or the like and comprising frame means, a first wheel rotatably carried by said frame means and having an axis of rotation, a member slidably carried by said frame means and movable radially toward and away from said axis of rotation of said first wheel, a second wheel rotatably carried by said member and having an axis of rotation disposed parallel to said axis of rotation of said first wheel, and means operatively interconnected to said member to selectively move said member toward and away from said axisof rotation of said first wheel to selectively vary the space between said wheels, said lastnamed means including means disposed between said frame means and said member and continuously tending to move said wheels apart, said last-named means including a rotatable cam carried by said frame means and an adjustable screw carried by said member, said screw engaging said cam.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,635,332 4/53 Huntington 29-235 2,638,131 5/53 Rohs.

2,654,402 10/5 3 Russell et a1 29238 X 2,693,955 11/54 Maust 226- 2,716,804 9/55 Johnson 2925 3 2,761,199 9/56 Allen 29-235 2,770,032 11/56 Kelly 29235 3,007,240 1 1/ 6 1 Heinrich 29 -235 3,016,605 1/ 62 Heckethorn 29--45 3 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

WHITMORE A. WILTZ, Examiner. ,2, 

4. APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING TOGETHER INTERLOCKING EXTRUSIONS OR THE LIKE AND COMPRISING FRAME MEANS, A FIRST WHEEL ROTATABLY CARRIED BY SAID FRAME MEANS AND HAVING AN AXIS OF ROTATION, A MEMBER SLIDABLY CARRIED BY SAID FRAME MEANS AND MOVABLE RADIALLY TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID FIRST WHEEL, A SECOND WHEEL ROTATABLY CARRIED BY SAID MEMBER AND HAVING AN AXIS OF ROTATION DISPOSED PARALLEL TO SAID AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID FIRST WHEEL, AND MEANS OPERATIVELY INTERCONNECTED TO SAID MEMBER TO SELECTIVELY MOVE SAID MEMBER TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID FIRST WHEEL TO SELECTIVELY VARY THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID WHEELS, SAID LAST-NAMED MEANS INCLUDING MEANS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID FRAME MEANS AND SAID MEMBER AND CONTINUOUSLY TENDING TO MOVE SAID WHEELS APART. 